Coleraine SES and CFA volunteers sandbagged entrances to shops and other buildings in the main street as well as nearby homes but water still got into many premises such as the IGA supermarket.

The floodwaters closed the Glenelg Highway at Coleraine and a relief centre was set at the Coleraine racecourse to accommodate those displaced by the flooding.

Lachlan McDonald of McDonald Rural Supplies in Coleraine’s main street said Bryan Creek flooded after about 100 millimetres fell in the creek’s catchment in the Melville Forest area, north-east of Coleraine.

Mr McDonald said the floodwaters had covered all but 30cms of the 1.8 metre high security fence at the rear of his main street business but had stayed out of his premises.

He said old timers in the town said the flood had reached the levels of the record flood of 1946. 

“The 2010/2011 floods only got halfway to this one,” Mr McDonald said.

“This one kept on coming,” he said. 

Coleraine also received more than 46mm of rain on Thursday and Friday.

Among those affected in Coleraine was main street resident Teegan Beaton who said the floods lifted the carpets in her home.

The waters also sent tiger snakes escaping out of a woodpile that was being dispersed down her driveway.

The flooding was expected to hit nearby Casterton about 7.30pm on Friday with the Glenelg River, into which Bryan Creek flows, coming closer to the riverside Glenelg Hotel.

Kate Stewart from the hotel said floodwaters from the Glenelg were expected to peak about 7.30pm on Friday and not reach the hotel but patrons were watching it with a keen eye.

She said the highway across the river was still open and no buildings in the town had been flooded.

Hamilton received more than 60mm in the 24 hours to noon on Friday, while Warrnambool received more than 40mm on Thursday and Friday, Port Fairy more than 50mm and Cape Nelson near Portland got more than 42mm.